Patna: Electricity demand in Patna has risen sharply in recent weeks as households turn to induction cookers during an ongoing LPG shortage, prompting a shift in peak usage hours and testing the city’s power infrastructure.
According to officials from the Patna Electric Supply Undertaking, the city’s electricity load has increased by around 100 megawatts over the past fortnight. Where peak demand in March last year hovered near 350MW, it has now climbed to roughly 450MW, touching 456MW on Wednesday.
The change has not only been in volume but also in timing. Traditionally, peak demand occurred between 10pm and midnight, largely driven by air-conditioner use. However, officials say the peak now arrives earlier, between 7pm and 9pm—coinciding with evening meal preparation. On Wednesday, four of the city’s 11 power grids reached peak capacity by 7pm, rising to six grids an hour later, with one grid peaking at 9pm.
Dilip Kumar Singh, general manager of PESU, said the surge in induction cooking is a likely factor behind the rising demand. He added, however, that the utility is well within its operational limits. “Last summer, peak demand reached 883MW. This year, we have prepared for up to 1,000MW, so the current load of under 500MW is manageable,” he said.
The shift in consumption patterns comes amid a wider LPG supply crunch, which residents and local observers link to geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing strain between Iran and United States and instability in the Gulf region. While authorities maintain there is no formal shortage of LPG cylinders, many households have increasingly turned to electric alternatives.
As reliance on induction cookers grows, officials anticipate continued pressure on the electricity network during evening hours, even as they insist the system is equipped to cope with the changing demand.
